Hangar Flying

Any joggle or bump at the mouth of the NACA will disrupt the flow some.  Smooth is best.

Don't put antennas or other things ahead of it either...

Beagle

I actually track Long EZ plans and all the RAF stuff for new builders - and a few contact me every year - looking for plans (last week a trio in China looking for plans - not electronic plans).   The electronic plans people seem more comfortable with CAD and the like - but we don't seem to have any way to track them so we can offer them help.  The material costs have gone up so we can usually also find started projects - and I have new builders doing that from time to time.   I see the Spruce Ads for Cozy aircraft and again, nobody is tracking them to see how many are actually starting alone - thank goodness for Zeitlin and the Cozy builders group - if they are smart enough to sign up.

We found it took an average of 4 years and 2500 hours to build a Long EZ (based on 100 builders, about 70 of whom completed it), not 7500 hrs - the Stagger-EZ might have taken that long - even as Steve's second plane.  I'd think a Cozy IV might take a year more than a Long EZ.  In addition to the economy, I think the internet and even things like Netflix might actually cut substantially into building time.

We also found that when the builder was done and flying, he didn't have the energy to sand or help with layups or attend meetings much any more - kind of like the butterfly emerging!

But the numbers are down.  Just as they are at exclusive Canard flyins - except Columbia and Rough River.

Beagle (Canardfinder at att dot net)

I've seen a lot of discussion on downdraft cooling but nobody with a simple comparison with prior updraft...

I've got 2200 hours on updraft and never had to add special tubes to cool mags, etc.  Some people add pop up doors above the accessories and oil cooler up that way - seems like adding drag to me - we found best place for oil cooler was under the alternator, tilted toward the cowl intake area..

Beagle - I don't always check here - respond to canardfinder@att.net if you like.

I had 2 and 3 bladed props on a prior Long EZ - the 3 blade was actually faster and theory says it should be slower.   It was quieter in the cockpit as the exhaust is bouncing 6 one pipe at a time instead of two times per rev at the same time.  It was smoother.

There aren't many manufacturers of 3 blades.  The Performance blades seemed a little thin and people saw cracks appear and took them off out of concern... Catto has great 3 blades.

The big issue is carrying them. You can't carry them in most of our tandem planes, you can't put them in a baggage pod, and shipping is a nightmare that seems to be going up in price over time. With a pusher there is always servicing of props - they eat safety wire, washers, bolts and even tools - and need work. 

Beagle

Ronneberg had us carve out the top skin, then dremmel out the foam then after everything is vacuumed, use a razor knife to cut the bottom skin, while vacuuming with the other hand...trying not to let anything fall in the hole in the first place.  Then check filters anyway, of course, regularly.

I've talked to Klaus too - he suggested they just don't do as much for the Long EZ.  We lost Long EZ guy trying too hard to land slowly - be careful to check you reduction in speeds at altitude and then add a margin for gusts, unexpected gusts.  It's interesting to hear that you might get more aileron authority with them....

Beagle

Beautiful,

Not much chance of you melting your blue foam there! 

In that kind of weather, tie down ropes sometimes have to be cut!

Beagle

Bill,

I tried one of those dynamic rings on my starter ring - seemed smoother, but if I got 2 knots I'd be surprised.

I'll have to ask my balancer guy, Fackler, if he'll sense in the air and tell me if my clean airplane gives me a differential like you get.

Beagle